new to BYC,

I currently have 14 Plymouth rock barred chikens, 1 rooster, they are about 18 weeks old, I have switched them from mash to layer pellets, and have been told they will need additional lighting in coop over the winter months for proper laying. Is this true? And if
so can I use led lights? I Would set up with solar panel and led would use allot less. When should I expect to see eggs? Thanks for anty and all input.

You don't want to start in with the layer feed until they are laying or getting ready to lay. The calcium is hard on the kidneys of young birds and roosters.

Poultry need about 14 to 16 hours of light to keep them laying, although some do lay throughout the winter reguardless of how much light is available, but at a slower rate of lay. Depends on the breed. You will have to experiment with what type of lighting will keep them laying. It is best to turn the lights on a few hours before sun up and turn them back on again a few hours after sunset. Never leave them on 24 hours a day. The birds need to sleep.

I feel that it is not good to force new laying birds into lay until they have their egg laying machines in gear. So letting them lay for awhile before forcing them to lay. Can cause laying issues.

Not all pullets start that early - heritage birds often can take 26 weeks or longer to get going. Additional light will help them start laying but only if they are at the right age. Best to add some light in the morning with a timed light so that they get a gradual dusk to put themselves to bed, usually 12 hours a day total is enough to get them going.

Thanks for all the info, we are brand new to having chickens, we got them as day old. As far as switching to the layer pellets we just went off the recommendations on the bags. I'm sure we will have more questions along the way.